Flexible wire gate



(No Model.)

T. RUEDIGER.

FLEXIBLE WIRE GATE.

No. 359,941. Patented Mar. 22, 1887.

WITNESSES ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT Tricia.

THEODOR RUEDIGER, OF CHASKA, MINNESOTA.

FLEXIBLE WIRE GATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 359,941, dated March 22, 1887.

Application filed January 13,1887. Serial No, 224,259. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THEODOR RUEDIGER, of Chaska, in the county of Carver and State of Minnesota, have invented a new and useful Iniprovernent in Flexible \Vire Gates, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in flexible wire gates, and, among other objects, seeks to provide a flexible gate which will have its front or movable bar connected by a diagonal strut-brace in such manner as to strengthen the gate, brace the wire strands thereof, and at the same time permit the free movement of the gate and prevent any entanglement of the wire strands thereof.

The invention consists in certain features of construction and novel combination of parts, as will be described.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a gate constructed according to my invention, the gate being shown closed in full lines and open in dotted lines. Fig. 2is a detail perspective view of the shaft, having a crank and the supports for such shaft. Fig. 3 shows the hook-plate; and Fig. 4 is a side view, partly in section, showing the crank-shaft and hookplate and illustrating the operation of such parts.

Referring to the drawings, I will, for convcniencc of reference, refer to the post A as the hinge-post, the post B as the latch-post, and the bar Gas the front bar or gate-bar. The posts A B are properly sunk in the ground, and may be any two adjacent posts of a wire fence. The wire strands D are connected at one end to the front bar and have their opposite ends securcd to the post A. This connection of the wires with post A may be effected in any one of the manners shown or in any other suitable manner. The front bar has a leg or support, E, hinged to it near its upper end, and such log may be turned outwhen the gate is opened, as indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 1, and serves to retain the front bar in an upward position.

A diagonal strut-brace, F, which may be of wood or iron, extends between the hinge-post A. and the gate-bar G. This brace is, in the construction shown, a rigid rod, and is connected to the gate-bar by a swivel-connecti0n and to the hinge-post bya flexible connection,

j, that shown being a chain. In modifying the invention the flexible connection might be between the brace and the gatehar, instead of between said brace and the post, as shown. Now, it will be seen that by the flexible connection f the brace-rod may yield backward in fastening and unfastening the gate. This brace serves to strengthen the gate and prevents any entanglement of the wire strands thereof, as will be understood from the drawings.

While it is preferred to arrange the brace F diagonally, as shown, it is manifest such brace might be arranged at the top of the gate and parallel to the wire strands thereof without involving any departure from the broad principles of my invention. To the gate-bar are fixed short lugs or bars G, which project forward therefrom and lap alongside the latch-post when the gate is closed.

A plate, H, is secured to and projects forward from the gatebar, and has a hook, h, at its forward end. Immediately in rear of this hook the plate His formed, with a portion, 1, which depends and serves a purpose fully described hereinafter, and the under side of the plate, in rear of the depending portion 1, is arched upward at 2, as most clearly shown in Fig. 4.

The shaft I has a crank, 17, formed with a wrist, 3, and such shaft is journaled in bearings in lugs J, projected from a supportingplate, the latter being fixed to the latch-post. A crank, as shown, having an opening to fit shaft I, and provided in said opening with a plug or stud, I, to fit a groove, 2', in the shaft,

.may be provided, by which to turn the said shaft.

If the gate be open, and it is desired to close the same, the shaft may be turned to the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 4, and the hook h be caught thereon, as shown in such figure. Now, if the shaft be turned in the direction indicated by the arrow, Fig. 4, the crank will carry the hook around to the position shown in full lines in said Fig. 4, and the gate will. be fastened. The shaft, as is shown, is extended across the center of the crank at 4, and serves as a stop for engagement by the hook-plate when the parts are in fastened position. By rotating the shaft in the direction the reverse of that indicated by the arrow in Fig, 4, the gate, when fastened, may be released.

When the gate is fastened, the depending portion 1 of the plate H-fits down between the arms of the crank and holds the hook from being forced laterally off the crank.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. The combination, in a wire gate, 0f the latch-post, the front or movable gate-bar, a

shaftjournaled to the latch-post and having a crank, z, formed with a Wrist, 3, and a plate attached to the gate-bar and having a hook arranged to be engaged by the said wrist 3,snb* stantially as set forth.

2. In a wire gate, the lateh'post and front gate-bar and having a hook fitted-to be engaged by the crank, substantially as set forth.

THEODOR RUEDIGER.

\Vitn esses HELMUTH OESTERREICII, G. KRAYENBUHL.

shaft, the shaft having a crank, the front 01" movable gate-bar, anda plate attached to the 

